Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-29

! HlnGOWS were JtIiiilISu cC ClOsc llab IL
was impossible 10 open them
It was here that, for the first time,
began somehow or other to have some
vague apprehension of the sanity or the
honesty of my driver. Then came throng-
ing into my brain stories l had heard
wears ago in Paris Of a celebrated and
! dangerous gang of thieves who had for
| their accomplices many of the drivers Of
/ the night facres. These fellows drove
whatever passengers hey could procure
/ into obscure streets and there robbed and
| sometimes murdered them. Was to be
the victim of such schemes and if I
was what hope had /, alone and unarmed,
/ to escape, at such an hour, too, and On
/ such a night?
! Now was the time to resist, however,
! before it was too late. My resolution
| was prompt. I struck at the window as
/ loudly "a / could without breaking the
| glass; kicked at the panels of the door;
| I shouted. Suddenly with tremendous
| jolt on the curb the cab stopped As the
| door opened l cried: ''Let me out, You
rascal; I'll not be robbed" / stepped
/ forward to get out but was met by fierce
/ blow on the chest from the cabman, whose
/ eyes now literally glared with rage.
That's enough of rour mad trick,
Bedlam Billy" he said, as he thrust me
back violently into the cab; ''you want a
straight vestcut, you do, and you shall
have one;'' then slamming the door with
wrench that showed extraordinary
strength he lesped on the box and drove
away again with fury that sent me reel
ing into corner of the seat.
Hitherto l had dreamed only OF rob-
/ berry; now | was sure that the man who
drove me was mad, stark, staring mad.
He was going to drive me into some
river Or down some pit or in some way or
other to hurry himself and me to horrible
death. There he was now, standing up
to drive, leaning forward to lash on the
eager horse that, frothing with pain,
I leaped up at every blow of the mans
whip. do not know why I did not in
stantly break both front windows and
pull the man off the box, or force open
the door and throw myself out, or, break
ing all the glass, shout to every one
through the openings that the man who
was driving me had gone mad.
From whatever cause it happened 1
know not, but 1 did none of these things
It was now long past midnight, and
could see no one, not even policeman.
We were fast getting into the suburbs.
The speed rendered it almost certain
death to leap out, and, moreover, no
strength that could evoke could succeed
IN opening either door. l waited, there
fore, for some halt or pause that would
give ne an opportunity of struggling
with the mailman to whose care had SO
unhappily trusted myself.
On we flew, on-the horse leaping and
plunging as if it would have broken from
the harness We dashed down streets
whose random lamps seemed to race past
US; we tore down the lanes where houses
were yet but few, except at the begin
ming.
We were now racing up long side
street where in the distance. to my horror,
could just discern through the pale light
Of the first daybreak q yawning pit dug
for the foundations of new houses. There
was no railing on one side, and the road
was a mere deep rutted lane without
limit or boundary.
/ saw az once that our fate was newt
able; it came ere | could in any manner
extricate myself from the vehicle. The
horse near the deepest place gave plunge
and reel, and then dropped, in spite of the
redoubled lashing of the frantic driver
yes, fell, dragging tie carria &c with it into
what seemed to me in that imperfect
light and in that whirl of my senses a
chasln Of darkness at the bottom OF
which crouc'1ed hideous Death waiting for
his prey There was crash, cry and
/ fell stunned.
know not how long l lay insensible:
but when l recovered it was daybreak, {.
faint red light was stripping the eastern
SKY, and | could see surrounding objects,
though in q dim, uncertain way. | was
lying beside the fallen coach and its dead
horse: the driver I could nowhere see.
My first impulse was 10 rouse myself,
tottcr on my legs and discover where /
was hurt or if any bone was broken. To
M great delight found myself whole
and sound with the exception Of a slight
sprain III my right foot At least so |
thought at first; bat as put down my
hand 10 touch my in iured foot heavy red
clotted drop Ct blood fell upon it. lifted
my hand to my forehead and found there
I. deep cut, from which the blood was
oozing thickly. | instantly took out my
handkerchief and bound it tightly round
the wound SO as, if possible, To stanch the
blood till / could get assistance. But
where was | and where was the driver?
Thank Cod l cried aloud, that | am
at last rid CT that mailman
But the wretched maniac who would
have taken my life, was he lying crushed
beneath the cab | must rouse myself
and see If | can find any trace of him,
though doubtless he believed me dead.
IF unhurt he had fed, bowling and exult-
ing. to meet with that certain detection
he had not cunning enough 10 escape; if
injured, he had crawled away to obtain
help.
AS these thoughts passed through my
mind l stepped painfully over the dead
horse, and again cxclaiming Thank God,
he is gomez walked round to the other
side of the cab, which hitherto had been
hidden from me.
Good heavens, what did I see. My
enemy the mailman sitting down between
the upturnell wheels with his back against
the body OF the carriage. quietly cutting
4 leather trace into two long flexible
strips On his face, which was smeared
with blood and gore, there was a kideous
smile Of malice as his eyes met mine.
Wy. hullo, Lushingtoni' he said, not
appearing the least alarmed or surprised,
and continuing his task, this is a rum
start OF yours, isn't it, Vot are you agoing
10 give me for my fare; I'm not going
away, CoIney Hatch, without getting paid
for yo1r mad capers, don't think it, Mr.
Eanwen So now, then, Crazy Bill,
stump up"
IT is you who are mad, said, -and /
leave you to your keeper"
Ven see about that, said the villain.
slowly getting on lis legs and advancing
toward re with the two leather straps,
that he Lad row knottel into one long
ccTt, dangling behind his back You